Double Delight For Shakey
Added on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Byrne double gives him the early lead in BSB championship
Shane Byrne claimed a double-victory at Oulton Park to open up an early lead in the British Superbike Championship on Monday.
Byrne, who made the switch to Airwaves Ducati in the off-season, has now won three of the opening four races of the 2008 season, building a 39-point lead over teammate Leon Camier.
In another eventful weekend, Byrne kept his cool after the first race was restarted to hold off a fierce challenge from Leon Haslam.
The red flags were out as Tom Sykes, Cal Crutchlow, Billy McConnell, Guy Martin and David Johnson all fell at Old Hall and after the restart, Cal Crutchlow soon found himself in the gravel to leave Byrne and Haslam fighting for the lead.
On the final lap, Haslam made a last-ditch attempt to snatch the lead, shadowing Byrne and making a pass at Island Bend before Byrne regained the lead at the next corner.
Haslam was unable to find a way past on the HM Plant Honda in the final stages of the lap and had to make do with second place.
Race two was also packed with incident as Leon Haslam was disqualified for “Careless riding” after colliding with early race leader Sykes.
Byrne took the lead from Crutchlow on lap 12 but a lap later, the red flag was waved again following a Crutchlow crash as Druids and an incident at Hilltop involving Dean Ellison and Steve Mercer.
Byrne however put the controversy behind him and savoured the double victory in Cheshire.
“That is the result I have been looking for all season,” said Byrne.
“It has been an up and down weekend, but we had a good bike for both the wet and the dry conditions and I am ecstatic to have won both races. I am delighted for everyone in the Airwaves Ducati team; they have all worked so hard this weekend.
“I really enjoyed today and to achieve a double win and go to Brands Hatch as the championship leader is fantastic.
“I am going to go home and have a few days rest before getting to Brands Hatch and trying to build on this and get a few more wins if possible.”
British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, Race One:
1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati)
2. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +0.204s
3. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +2.604s
4. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +11.495s
5. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +20.015s
6. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +22.023s
7. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +37.259s
8. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +39.322s
9. Tristan Palmer (Tena for Men Honda) +54.028s
10. Stuart Easton (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +57.885s
British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, Race Two, Amended Results:
1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati)
2. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +4.247s
3. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +8.027s
4*. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +1 lap
5. Stuart Easton (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +1 lap
6. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +1 lap
7. Simon Andrews (Jentin Racing/Lloyds British Yamaha) +1 lap
8. Scott Smart (Hawk Kawasaki) +1 lap
9. Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +1 lap
10. Billy McConnell (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +1 lap
* Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda), 4th place - disqualified.
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